Diagnostic value of 13C respiratory test and fecal antigen test in children with Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

Objective To analyze the diagnostic value of 13C respiratory test and fecal antigen test in children with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection. Methods Sixty-six children with gastrointestinal symptoms in the Department of Gastroenterology in Shanxi Provincial Children's Hospital from February 2017 to January 2019 were selected. All patients underwent Hp fecal antigen test (HpSA) and 13C urea breath test (13C-UBT). A gastroscopy was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Statistics of Hp infection in 66 children were analyzed and the diagnostic efficacy of HpSA and 13C-UBT was analyzed. Results Thirty-six patients were diagnosed as Hp-positive in 27 cases by gastroscopy, and Hp-negative in 38 cases, not sure for one case. One case of uncertainty was excluded from the diagnostic efficacy study, so that, 65 patients entered the diagnostic efficacy analysis. The diagnostic sensitivity of HpSA to Hp infection in 65 patients was 77.78% (21/27), the specificity was 92.11% (35/38), and the diagnostic accuracy was 86.15% (56/65). The 13C-UBT susceptibility rate was 96.30% (26/27), the specificity was 89.47% (34/38), and the diagnostic accuracy was 92.31% (60/65). The sensitivity of13C-UBT to Hp infection was higher than that of HpSA, and the difference was significant (χ2=4.103, P=0.043). Conclusions The results of13C-UBT test can effectively reflect the Hp status in the stomach of children, and its specificity and sensitivity are high. HpSA detection has the advantage of easy operation, moreover, it can be used as an auxiliary alternative to13C-UBT. Key words: Helicobacter pylori infection, children; Fecal antigen test; 13C breath test